Tatuaje Monster Series #13 The Bride

By Tony Casas | October 29, 2018

We were in the 30’s last week, now we are back in the high 70’s. That’s how El Paso weather goes I guess, but no complaints here as its perfect weather to head out back with a Tatuaje Bride and a Bruery Melange 10. 

The Good Stuff:

Starting back in 2008 Tatuaje released its famous Monster series and the cigar community went wild over them. Released in extremely small amounts to an even smaller amount of retailers across the US this cigar line quickly because one of the most sought after releases year after year. I’ve been lucky enough to smoke each and every one and we reviewed almost all of them right there on Casas Fumando:

• 2008 – The Frank
• 2009 – The Drac
• 2010 – The Face
• 2011 – The Wolfman
• 2012 – The Mummy
• 2013 – The JV13
• 2014 – The Jekyll
• 2015 – The Hyde
• 2016 – Krueger
• 2017 – The Michael
• 2018 – The Bride

The Bride is the latest, and final installment into the Monster Series. The cigar is released in one a single 7 1/8 x 49 format carrying a Connecticut Broadleaf Rosado wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. As usually there are 2 different box options, 666 Dress Boxes with carry 13 cigars and additional 4,500 Boxes which carry 10 cigars each. The Bride runs $13 a stick and I purchased mine over from our great friends at Cuenca Cigars.

Size: 7 1/8 x 49
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Body: Medium/Full
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $13
Pairing: Bruery Melange 10 (Imperial Ale 15% ABV)

Prelight:

The Tatuaje Bride starts out with an absolutely beautiful, extremely consistent dark-brown wrapper. There is no color difference throughout the entire cigar. The wrapper’s texture is very firm and dense while it is covered with a whole mess of gritty tooth. The wrapper is laid seamlessly over itself leading up to the cigar’s round triple-cap. The cigar feels tightly packed and very firm from foot to cap. The Bride is polished off with the standard white and black Tatuaje band we have all come to expect and with most of the other Monster releases the bands state “Halloween” on each of it’s sides. 

The wrapper on the Bridge gives off a good amount of cocoa, spice, and cherry while the foot of the cigar is more pepper-forward with notes of dirt and musk. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw produces mostly cocoa and musk flavors.

First Smoke:

The first few puffs on the Tatuaje Bridge release some soft cayenne pepper that just teased my palate before fading away letting the bold cocoa, musk, tartness and plum take over. There is some really nice mixed in cedar that comes and goes as I smoke down the first third. The draw is flawless and every little puff releases just the perfect amount of thick, white smoke which hangs out quite a while before dissipating. The burn line is razor thin and dead even leaving behind a trail of tightly compacted light gray to white ash which held on for an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Second Third:

Into the second this of the Tatuaje Bride and the cocoa has really taken over the flavor profile backed by cinnamon, musk, spice, sweet brown sugar, a bit of dirt, and deep cedar. Its a great mixture of flavors. The retrohale brings out just a bit more of the spice and a bit more of the cedar. The burn line is still absolutely flawless as I close out the second third with only a very minor hint of nicotine. 

Finish:

Into the final third of the Tatuaje Bride and I am absolutely loving this cigar. The flavor profile is incredible with heavy amounts of cocoa, brown sugar, and spice backed by cedar, musk, and vanilla. It took me two hours to take this cigar down to the nub and I experienced absolutely no harshness nor extended heat. I close out with only a very minor nicotine kick wishing that this cigar wouldn’t end.

Overview:

I have been a long-time fan of the Tatuaje Monster series and the Bride is easiest one of my favorites in the portfolio. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad these portfolio was closing out. The flavor profile was right on par with my personal preference all while maintaining a medium/full profile that won’t leave any cigar smoker on their ass. I am glad I got a handful of these as they’ll be pretty hard to find going forward.

Pairing:

The Melange 10 is VERY sweet as it leads with candied malt, banana, cocoa, apple, musk, spice, and cinnamon with a very light mouthfeel before the beer finishes even sweeter with more cocoa and cinnamon, banana, caramel, and just a soft touch of Chile. The booze is dangerously well hidden in this beer. The Melange 10 made for a perfect pairing with the Tatuaje Bride as the musk, sweetness, cinnamon, and cocoa really paired up well together. This beer can easily overpower a lot fo cigars but the Bride really held it’s own. I could see pairing this cigar with a great tawny port, spiced winter ale, our a nice barrel aged stout.